James was born in Canterbury, and moved to London where he was a merchant. He was connected to many of the prominent Walloon families in Canterbury and London through his marriage to Mary Maurois (qv), with whom he had four children. He died when he was only 33, and was buried in the Parish Church of St Antholin Budge Row. He appointed his wife and her brother Elias Maurois as guardians to his children.

His eldest daughter Elizabeth married Louington Pamplin, the son of a clergyman from Cambridgeshire, but little more is known about them. The next two sons were James (qv) and Nathaniel, both Freemen in the Dyers Company in the City of London. James and Nathaniel's wives were first cousins, with the same name Mary Delillers. Nathaniel's only surviving daughter Mary, who inherited his estate after the death of her mother, married her cousin John Denew. James snr's youngest daughter Mary was born after the death of her father, but again little more is known about her.

James married Mary MAUROIS, daughter of Elias MAUROIS and Elizabeth DESBOUVERIES, on 30 Jan 1625 in Walloon or Strangers Church, Canterbury, Kent.12 (Mary MAUROIS was christened on 11 Nov 1599 in Walloon or Strangers Church, Canterbury, Kent,6 died Of in Broadfriars, London 7 and was buried on 17 Mar 1675 in St Antholin Budge Row, London 5.)